Men's Basketball Comes Up Short in Highway 52 Shootout Title Game; Smith and Hollinger Named to All-Tournament Team

SALISBURY, N.C. – Pfeiffer University trimmed a 10-point halftime deficit down to one with 4:32 remaining in the second half, but couldn’t find a way to cross the final hump in an 80-69 loss to host Livingstone in the championship game of the 2011 Highway 52 Shootout. The Blue Bears move to 2-0 on the year while the Falcons even to 1-1.

A 10-0 second half run aided the Falcon comeback as Danny Smith led the way with six-straight points while Reggie Hollinger added five-in-a-row. Hollinger cut it down to one knocking down a pair of free throws with 4:32 remaining before Livingstone responded with a 10-2 run. Tournament MVP Nasir Austin drained a shot clock buzzer beating jumper on the baseline with four minutes left providing the final spark the Blue Bears needed.

KC Anuna put the Falcons up seven on a couple of different occasions midway through the first as Pfeiffer looked good through the first dozen minutes. Livingstone would proceed to close out the first 20 minutes on a 14-5 run for the 10 point advantage at intermission.

Austin led the way for Livingstone dropping 22 on 9-of-11 shooting from the floor. Greg Henry, running into late foul trouble, finished with 12 while three different Blue Bears concluded with 11. Smith paced Pfeiffer with his 22 while Hollinger dumped in 15.

For their efforts over the weekend, Smith and Hollinger were named to the all-tournament team. Kean Moore (Catawba) and Andreaus Canty (Morris) joined Henry and Austin from Livingstone on the all-tournament team.

Pfeiffer returns to the court on Thursday traveling to Barber-Scotia for a 7:00 p.m. tip. Live stats will be available courtesy of http://www.gofalconsports.com.